The Nolan Committee on Standards of Conduct, Britain's ethics watchdog, praised the Association's voluntary Code of Conduct.

But as an ethics watchdog, he has done better than most in a place where too often what is ethical depends on how the people in charge define it.

A majority of the Circuit Judicial Council, the District of Columbia circuit's ethics watchdog, endorsed his view.

None of the measures would overhaul campaign financing or create an independent ethics watchdog to enforce the rules.

To enforce their rules, about half the states have also created independent ethics watchdogs, outside the control of the lawmakers they police - something federal lawmakers have so far resisted.

The rabbi was an ethics watchdog for a national association of pastors, and was honored as a chaplain of the year for his work with recovery workers at ground zero.

In the past, I must confess, I've had doubts about whether an ombudsman monitoring the newsroom from outside should serve as the primary ethics watchdog.

A Day spokesman, Phil von Finckenstein, said, "We need an ethics watchdog, not an ethics lapdog."

As a self-styled ethics watchdog, he has not hesitated to criticize fellow Republicans who become embroiled in scandal.

"Only in Albany could the only effective ethics watchdog get fired, while the others remain in business."